Tracy Neal
Downside to NZ's sunshine capital is drought
The top of the South Island is getting ready to seize the Sunshine Trophy for clocking up the most sunshine hours in the country again this year, but it comes with a price. Audio
Ward gathers to remember and to look ahead
Members of the Ward community in South Marlborough packed out St Peters Chapel in the township for a special service to remember events of a year ago. Tracy Neal reports. Video, Audio
Whale-saving invention ready for summer
The remote and wind-swept beaches inside Farewell Spit, at the north-west tip of the South Island, have long been a whale death-trap. In February this year, it was the scene of mainland New Zealand's… Audio
Weather: Overnight storm a wintry return for South Island
It's been a wild night of weather for the South Island. Huge gusts of wind caused power cuts on much of the West Coast, the top of the South Island and the east coast down into north Canterbury. Some… Audio
Wild night of weather for the South Island
It's been a wild night of weather for the South Island. Huge gusts of wind have caused power cuts on much of the West Coast, across Marlborough and parts of north Canterbury. Roads are blocked by… Audio
One year, thousands of dollars to build Nelson rock wall
A Nelson home-owner says it's taken more than a year and thousands of dollars to get a consent hearing to build a small rock wall outside his waterfront home. The city council's processing of resource… Audio
Nelson landlord's trust shattered by dirty, messy tenant
Barry Thompson, 81, says he'll find it difficult to trust another tenant after a woman turned his property into a rubbish dump. Video, Audio
Marlborough Council staff donate sick days to 'leave bank'
Marlborough District Council has started a sick leave bank allowing staff to pool their sick leave for other colleagues to use. Audio
Royal Commission of Inquiry into EQC
New EQC Minister, Megan Woods, will hold an independent inquiry to help the thousands of Christchurch homeowners who have been battling the natural disaster insurer over assessments and repairs. Audio
Hair-saving treatment for cancer sufferers trialled in Nelson
Special scalp cooling treatment to reduce the risk of hair loss in cancer patients is being trialled for the first time in New Zealand at Nelson Hospital. Video, Audio
Retailers to face new govt on GST for small online items
New Zealand retailers say they will challenge the new government to pick up a plan the previous one left dangling, to collect GST on lower value imported goods. Retail New Zealand says the government… Audio
Rail returns between Picton and Christchurch
The track will open this week after being closed for nearly a year after the line suffered extensive damage in last November's earthquake. Video, Audio
Rose Renton revealed as woman in Nick Smith rat poison incident
Rose Renton, who fought for changes to medicinal cannabis rules after the death of her son, Alex, says it was a direct message of passion and anger, and there was no threat to anyone's safety. Video, Audio
Video evidence appears to contradict Nick Smith's claim
Nick Smith says rat poison was rubbed 'over my face', but Checkpoint has viewed a video of the incident and we cannot see that poison made contact with the veteran MP's skin. Audio
Nelson boarding hostel now a mini prison, neighbours say
Residents who live near a large boarding hostel in central Nelson are worried they can't find out more about former prisoners who are living there. Video, Audio
National's parental leave extension desperate tactic - Labour
National announced today it will increase paid parental leave from 18 to 22 weeks, but Labour says that is a desperate tactic, after the party vetoed Labour's bill on extending parental leave. Video, Audio
Nelson scores first All Black test
Nelson has won its first-ever All Blacks test match after spending more than $1 million convincing the Rugby Union it was serious about hosting the fixture. Video, Audio
Paua as climate change indicators
Paua nicknamed Thelma & Louise strapped to a heart monitor to demonstrate the effects of climate change. Audio
Recreational fishers demand group to oversee stock protection
Weekend boaties are under scrutiny in a bid to find out just how much they are to blame for overfishing and what to do about it. While there are strict rules for managing commercial fisheries, there… Audio
Nelson locals on the Greens bid for their vote
Nelson City Councillor Matt Lawrey is taking on long-time incumbent, National's Nick Smith, who's held the Nelson seat 1996. Audio
